Is it just me or did the darkness of winter descend suddenly this year?
The change in the weather and the drop in temperatures has been abrupt too.
This is especially bleak and scary for many of the women we see at MASH.
Not only are they in survival mode when it comes to basic needs like having something to eat that day or having a safe place to sleep, now there is the added fear around staying warm and dry.
We’re working on our end of year Impact Report at the moment and sadly the past year has been one of our busiest in our history.
More women are turning to sex working for the first time or returning to it as a last resort. More women have been pushed from just about coping into crisis.
Women are telling us that their lives feel exhausting, hopeless and dark.
“I quickly came to see the MASH team as the single light in my darkest times.” – Sarah
At MASH we always strive to be a place of light for women. Whether that’s literally, as they see the van headlights come around the corner on a freezing cold night when they’re out working. Or metaphorically as a glimmer of hope and friendship in an otherwise bleak time.
That light could be offering something practical in the moment that makes a big difference, like a hot home cooked meal or a warm coat.
Or it could be a moment of joy and laughter in the drop-in centre. Like at the recent pewter crafting workshop where women learnt how to combine their creativity with expert guidance from Ella McIntosh.
They created keyrings, bracelets and Christmas decorations “whilst having belly laughs and reminiscing about working with tools in school.”
That light could be knowing that there is finally someone in their life and at the end of the phone who believes them, who they can trust and who can help them navigate all the broken systems and barriers which prevent them from moving on in the way they dream of.
It feels more urgent than ever that MASH can be that glimmer of light for any woman who needs and deserves safety, warmth and joy.
MASH is a community and the fact that you are here reading this blog means that you are part of it. We really appreciate your support – you ensure that MASH is a light in the darkness for those who need it.
If you have the means to chip in and support financially, you might like to make a gift that keeps on giving.
For a limited time until Tuesday 19th December, if you set up a kind monthly donation to MASH, it will be matched for the first four months – helping even more women.
If you were thinking of making a gift to MASH, perhaps you could commit to making it a regular one. This is just one way that you can contribute to that light in the darkness.
